Then House Majority Leader McCarthy, who was expected to become Speaker if Republicans kept the House, announced his run for minority leader. From POLITICO:

"Today is a difficult day. Our members competed hard across the country. But after months of enduring nonstop biased attacks and unprecedented liberal resources, we came short of defying history and holding the House," said the 53-year-old McCarthy in a Wednesday letter to other House Republicans. "Even so, we should not let last night’s results diminish the great gains President Trump and our majority have delivered."

McCarthy added: "I helped build a majority from a deeper hole than this and I have what it takes to do it again. That is why I have decided to run for Republican Leader and humbly ask for your support."

Repeating claims made by President Donald Trump, who McCarthy has forged a close relationship with, the California Republican argued that "we have seen where Democrats want to take our country — open borders, government-run healthcare, impeaching President Trump, and crushing debt for our kids and grandkids. We simply cannot let that happen."

Among the Republican base, McCarthy is seen as an establishment ally of outgoing Speaker Paul Ryan. Jordan is seen as a scrappy grassroots player who came to Washington on the Tea Party wave.